Back to EveryPatent.com
United States Patent |
5,504,506
|
Noaki
|
April 2, 1996
|
Information recording method capable of performing a high quality
recording in accordance with printing conditions
Abstract
An information recording method comprises the steps of storing image
information, judging the printing conditions related to the printing
quality, changing the dot pattern which is utilized for the formation of
the stored image information on a recording medium from the stored dot
pattern in the case where the printing conditions are judged by the
aforesaid judgment to degrade the printing quality, and storing the image
information by the dot pattern thus changed, hence making it possible to
implement a high quality printing of illustrations, and others suited for
the quality of papers used, ambient conditions, object printing data, and
the type of object printers.
Inventors:
|
Noaki; Hiroaki (Chiba, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
|
Appl. No.:
|
161861 |
Filed:
|
December 6, 1993 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
347/16; 347/14 |
Intern'l Class: |
B41J 002/01 |
Field of Search: |
347/5,9,14,16,19,104
395/102,101
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4087825 | May., 1978 | Chen | 349/15.
|
4216480 | Aug., 1980 | Buehner | 347/37.
|
4313124 | Jan., 1982 | Hara.
| |
4345262 | Aug., 1982 | Shirato et al.
| |
4439775 | Mar., 1984 | Johnson | 347/37.
|
4459600 | Jul., 1984 | Sato et al.
| |
4463359 | Jul., 1984 | Ayata et al.
| |
4558333 | Dec., 1985 | Sugitani et al.
| |
4617580 | Oct., 1986 | Miyakawa | 347/14.
|
4631548 | Dec., 1986 | Milbrandt | 347/15.
|
4718040 | Jan., 1988 | Ayata | 564/700.
|
4723129 | Feb., 1988 | Endo et al.
| |
4740796 | Apr., 1988 | Endo et al.
| |
4866462 | Sep., 1989 | Watanabe | 347/9.
|
5093903 | Mar., 1992 | Sudoh | 395/102.
|
5237344 | Aug., 1993 | Tasaki | 347/9.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
0317740 | May., 1989 | EP | .
|
146769 | Nov., 1981 | JP | .
|
58-162349 | Sep., 1983 | JP | .
|
59-123670 | Jul., 1984 | JP | .
|
59-138461 | Aug., 1984 | JP | .
|
60-110459 | Jun., 1985 | JP | .
|
61-290060 | Dec., 1986 | JP | .
|
Primary Examiner: Hartary; Joseph W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/764,198 filed
Sep. 23, 1991, now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An information recording method for recording on materials that tend to
degrade printing quality and materials that do not tend to degrade
printing quality, said method comprising the steps of:
storing image information to be formed by a dot pattern and storing
predetermined pattern information to be formed by a predetermined dot
pattern;
instructing printing of the image information on a recording medium;
specifying a size of the recording medium;
presuming the material comprising the recording medium on the basis of the
size specified in said specifying step;
judging printing conditions that tend to affect printing quality of the dot
pattern, said judging including determining whether the presumed material
is a material that would tend to degrade printing quality;
modifying the stored image information by changing the dot pattern which is
utilized for formation of the stored image information to the
predetermined dot pattern in the case where the printing conditions are
judged in said judging step to tend to degrade the printing quality; and
printing the modified image information on the recording medium.
2. An information recording method according to claim 1, wherein said
judging is performed by processing the dot pattern of the stored image
information on the basis of a specific rule.
3. An information recording method according to claim 1, wherein in said
judging step, a judgement is made on a ratio of a blank portion in image
information to be recorded.
4. An information recording method according to claim 1, wherein in said
judging step, a judgement is made on kinds of recording means to be used
in said printing step.
5. An information recording method according to claim 1, wherein in said
presuming step, if a post card size is specified, the material is presumed
in said presuming step as tending to degrade printing quality lower than a
standard quality.
6. An information recording method according to claim 1, wherein in said
modifying step modification is performed by an AND operation between the
dot information utilized for the formation of the stored image information
and the predetermined dot pattern.
7. An information recording method for recording on materials that tend to
degrade printing quality and materials that do not tend to degrade
printing quality, said method comprising the steps of:
preparing a first image formed of dots and a second image which is produced
by thinning the dots forming the first image;
instructing printing of the first image on a recording medium;
specifying a size of the recording medium;
presuming the material comprising the recording medium on the basis of the
size specified in said specifying step;
determining whether the presumed material is a material that would tend to
degrade printing quality; and
printing the second image rather than the first image, if the presumed
material is determined to be the material that would tend to degrade
printing quality.
8. An information recording apparatus for recording on materials that tend
to degrade printing quality and materials that do not tend to degrade
printing quality, said apparatus comprising:
storage means for storing image information to be formed by a dot pattern
and storing predetermined pattern information to be formed by a
predetermined pattern;
instruction means for instructing printing of the image information on a
recording medium;
specifying means for specifying a size of the recording medium;
presuming means for presuming the material comprising the recording medium
on the basis of the size specified in said specifying step;
judgement means for judging printing conditions that tend to affect
printing quality of the dot pattern, said judging including determining
whether the presumed material is a material that would tend to degrade
printing quality;
modification means for modifying the stored image information by changing
the dot pattern which is utilized for formation of the stored image
information to the predetermined dot pattern in the case where the
printing conditions are judged by said judgement means to tend to degrade
the printing quality; and
recording means for printing the modified image information on the
recording medium.
9. An information recording apparatus for recording on materials that tend
to degrade printing quality and materials that do not tend to degrade
printing quality, said apparatus comprising:
storage means for storing a first image formed of dots and a second image
which is produced by thinning the dots forming the first image;
recording means for printing at least one of the first and second images on
a recording medium;
first instructing means for instructing said recording means to print the
first image;
specifying means for specifying a size of the recording medium;
presuming means for presuming the material comprising the recording medium
on the basis of the size specified by said specifying means;
determining means for determining whether the presumed material is a
material that would tend to degrade printing quality; and
second instructing means for instructing said recording means to print the
second image rather than the first image, if the presumed material is
determined to be the material that would tend to degrade printing quality.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording method for an information
processing apparatus for performing an recording while implementing the
improvement of the printing quality in accordance with the various
conditions.
2. Related Background Art
Traditionally, for a recording apparatus to perform the recording on paper,
OHP sheet, or other recording media (hereinafter referred to simply as
paper as the output unit for an information processing apparatus, a
wire-dot method, thermosensitive method, thermal transfer method, ink jet
method, and various other recording methods have been proposed.
Particularly, the ink jet method has been of interest to those who are in
the art as a quiet recording method with a low running cost because this
method allows ink to be discharged directly onto the recording paper.
The ink jet recording apparatus has traditionally been such that dot
patterns are formed on a recording paper by driving a plurality of dot
formation elements provided on the recording head selectively in
accordance with recording information (image data). The solid printing
area of the character or image data such as shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B are
filled with dot patterns as recording information for this recording
apparatus.
However, a conventional example such as this has a drawback that as shown
in FIGS. 28A and 28B, the printing quality in the solid printing area on
the recording sheet is degraded because of the kind of the printing sheet
used, the ambient conditions at the time of the apparatus used, the
irregularity generated in the recording head, and the like.
(1) The effect caused by the kinds of recording sheets (difference between
them).
According to the kinds of recording sheets, there is difference in the
absorptions and fixations of ink when the ink droplets discharged from the
nozzles of the recording head have arrived at the printing surface of the
recording sheet. Thus, if the absorption and fixation of ink are inferior,
the resultant irregularity of density occurs in the solid printing area by
the difference in dot sizes. Also, featherings occur.
(2) The effect cased by the ambient conditions at the time of the recording
apparatus used.
By the ambient temperature and other factors, the quantity of ink droplets
discharged from the nozzles of the recording head varies. Consequently,
irregular densities are generated in the solid printing area, which
further leads to the printing slippage, splash, satellite, or the like.
(3) The effect caused by the irregularity generated in the recording head.
Due to the irregularity generated in the recording head when manufactured,
the degradation of the printing quality results in a solid printing area
when the recording is performed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing
apparatus capable of executing the printing with an appropriate printing
quality in accordance with the printing conditions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an information
processing apparatus capable of executing the printing by improving the
printing quality in the solid printing area.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information
processing apparatus capable of implementing the improvement of the
printing quality by changing the dot patterns for those effecting the
degradation in a case where the printing quality is being degraded.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an information
processing apparatus capable of executing the printing by improving the
printing quality in accordance with the material of the printing medium.
According to one aspect, the present invention which achieves these
objectives relates to an information recording method comprising the steps
of:
storing image information;
judging the printing conditions related to the printing quality;
changing the dot pattern which is utilized for the formation of the
aforesaid stored image information on a recording medium from the stored
dot pattern in the case where the printing conditions are judged by the
aforesaid judgment to degrade the printing quality; and
storing the aforesaid image information by the changed dot patterns.
According to another aspect, the present invention which achieves these
objectives relates to an information recording method comprising the steps
of:
storing image information;
defining the size of a recording medium;
judging the material of the recording medium on the basis of the aforesaid
defined size; and
storing the aforesaid image information by the control corresponding to the
aforesaid judged material.
Other objectives and advantages besides those discussed above shall be
apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of a preferred
embodiment of the invention which follows. In the description, reference
is made to accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which
illustrates an example of the invention. Such example, however, is not
exhaustive of the various embodiments of the invention, and therefore
reference is made to the claims which follow the description for
determinating the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing a configuration of a word
processor as one example of a device to which the present invention is
applied.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one example of a printer portion of an
ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a head cartridge as shown in FIG.
2.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are an exploded perspective view and an external
perspective view of the head cartridge as shown in FIG. 3, respectively.
FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a
recording head roof plate as shown in FIG. 4A.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are upper and side views of a carriage as shown in FIG. 2.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are upper and side views showing a state where the above
mentioned head cartridge is mounted on the above mentioned carriage.
FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are an exploded perspective view of the above mentioned
carriage, a side view of the same carriage, and a side view showing a
state where the head cartridge is mounted on the carriage, respectively.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional side and exploded upper views of a
recording medium conveying system of the printer as shown in FIG. 2,
respectively.
FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional side view showing a state where each
energizing force is released on the above mentioned conveying system.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are typical side views showing a configuration for the run
off of a feed roller in the above mentioned conveying system.
FIG. 9C is a typical side view showing one conventional example of an
energizing mechanism for a feed roller.
FIGS. 10A and 10B are side views of portions disposed on the right hand of
a device in a mechanism for releasing an energized state of a feed roller,
a paper presser bar and a spur on the above mentioned conveying system,
before and after the releasing thereof, respectively.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are side views of portions disposed on the left side of
the device in the same mechanism, before and after the releasing thereof,
respectively.
FIG. 12 is a typical front view showing an engaged state between a lever
and a knob for releasing the above mentioned energizing.
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the mechanism as shown in FIG.
14.
FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are side and upper views for explanation of an
engagement relation of the carriage as shown in FIG. 2 with other
elements, respectively.
FIGS. 16A and 16B are typical upper views showing how the above mentioned
carriage changes its position depending on the thickness of a recording
medium.
FIG. 17 is a typical side view for explanation of the change of a guide
bearing accompanied by the above mentioned change.
FIG. 18 is a typical front view showing a mechanism for inclining an array
of discharge ports to the moving direction of the carriage as shown in
FIG. 2.
FIGS. 19A and 19B are typical plan views showing recording examples when
the above mentioned inclining mechanism exists and does not exist,
respectively.
FIGS. 20A and 20B are upper and front views showing a tension mechanism for
a belt and a drive mechanism for driving the carriage as shown in FIG. 2,
respectively.
FIG. 21 and FIGS. 22, 22A, 22B are a timing chart and a flowchart in a
recording position instructed mode for the recording apparatus as shown in
FIG. 2, respectively.
FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing an information processing apparatus
according to the present invention.
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the illustration editing and printing
process.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the printing process enabling the
utilization of a substitute pattern.
FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the printing process enabling the
utilization of a pattern thinning.
FIGS. 27A and 27B are views showing the examples of characters and image
including solid printing portions.
FIGS. 28A and 28B are views showing the examples of printing outputs of
characters and image having density irregularities.
FIGS. 29A and 29B are views showing the examples of printing outputs of
characters and image by substitute patterns.
FIGS. 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D are views showing the examples of substitute
patterns.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The Structure and Operation of An Ink Jet Recording Apparatus!
FIGS. 1A and 1B show perspective views of an electronic typewriter with
another device to which this invention is applicable.
2001 is a keyboard, in which there is arranged a group of keys 2002, such
as keys for entering characters, e.g. letters and numerals, and control
keys. When it is not used, the device can be folded by turning it around a
hinge 2003, as shown in FIG. 21B. 2004 is a feed paper tray for feeding a
sheet-like recording medium onto a printer section within the apparatus,
and can be also stored by folding over the printer section, as shown in
FIG. 24B, when not used. 2005 is a feeder knob for setting or exhausting
the recording medium manually, 2006 is a display for displaying input
sentences or other data, and 2007 is a handle used to transport the
apparatus in accordance with this invention.
2008 is a window constituting a cover for the electronic typewriter in
accordance with this example, and provided on an upper portion of the
typewriter adjacent to the display 2006, which enables a visual inspection
of an ink jet printer and a recording medium that are accommodated
therein, as will be described later.
FIG. 2 shows a construction of a printer section according to this example.
9 is a head cartridge having an ink jet recording head, and 2011 is a
carriage for scanning in the S' direction in the figure with the head
cartridge 9 mounted thereon. 2013 is a hook for attaching the head
cartridge 9 onto the carriage 2011, and 2015 is a lever for operating the
hook 2013. On this lever 2015 is provided a marker 2017 for enabling a
print or set position of the recording head of the head cartridge to be
read relative to a scale provided on the cover as described later. 2019 is
a support plate for supporting an electrical connection to the head
cartridge 9. 2021 is a flexible cable for connecting between its
electrical connection and a control section of main body.
2023 is a guide shaft for guiding the carriage 2011 in the S direction,
which is inserted through bearings 2025 of the carriage 2011. 2027 is a
timing belt for transmitting a power to move the carriage 2011 fixed
thereto in the S direction, passing under tension about pulleys 2029A,
2029B arranged on both sides of the apparatus. A driving force is
transmitted to one pulley 2029B via a transmission, e.g. a gear, from a
carriage motor 2031.
2033 is a conveying roller for conveying a recording medium, e.g. a paper
(thereafter referred to as a recording paper) in recording, as well as
regulating a record face of the recording medium, and it is driven by a
conveying motor 2035. 2037 is a paper pan for guiding the recording medium
from the feed paper tray 2004 to a recording position, and 2039 are feed
rollers, disposed on a way of feed path for the recording medium, for
biasing the recording medium against the conveying roller 2033 to convey
it. 2034 is a platen for regulating a record face of the recording medium,
opposed to discharge ports of the head cartridge 2009. 2041 is a paper
exhausting roller for exhausting the recording medium to a paper
exhausting port, not shown, which is disposed downstream from the
recording position in the direction of conveying the recording medium.
2042 is a spur provided correspondingly to the paper exhausting roller
2041, for pressing the roller 2041 via the recording medium, and
developing a force for conveying the recording medium with the paper
exhausting roller 2041. 2043 is a release lever for releasing the
energizing state for a feed roller 2039, a presser bar 2045, and a spur
2042, when setting the recording medium.
2045 is a presser bar for suppressing the floating of a recording medium in
a neighborhood of a recording position to secure a tight contact condition
against the conveying roller 2033. In this example, an ink jet recording
head to record with the discharge of ink is used. Accordingly, as a
distance between an ink discharge port formation face of the recording
head and a record face of the recording medium is relatively slight, and
must be strictly controlled to avoid a contact between them, the presser
bar 2045 is effectively disposed. 2047 is a scale provided on the presser
bar 2045, and 2049 is a marker provided on the carriage 2011
correspondingly to this scale, both enabling a print or set position for
the recording head to be read.
2051 is a cap made of an elastic material, e.g. rubber, which is placed
opposite to an ink discharge port formation face of the recording head in
a home position, and supported therein to be able to attach to/detach from
the recording head. The cap 2051 is used for protecting the recording head
when it is not used, or in a suction recovery processing for the recording
head. The suction recovery process is such a processing that the cap 2051
is opposed to the discharge port formation face, and the ink is discharged
from the whole discharge ports by driving energy generation elements for
the ink discharge provided inwardly of the ink discharge ports, thereby
discharge faulty factors, such as bubbles, dusts, or thickened ink not
suitable for recording are removed (predischarge), or otherwise, discharge
faulty factors are removed by forcedly discharging the ink from the
discharge ports, with the discharge port formation face being covered with
the cap 2051.
2053 is a pump used to generate a suction force for the forced discharge of
ink, and to suck the ink received within the cap 2051 in the suction
recovery process with the forced discharge or predischarge. 2055 is a
waste ink tank for reserving waste ink sucked by the pump 2053, and 2057
is a tube for communicating between the pump 2053 and the waste ink tank
2055.
2059 is a blade for wiping the discharge port formation face of the
recording head, which is movably held between a position for wiping during
the movement of head by projecting onto the recording head, and a
retracted position not engaging the discharge port formation face. 2061 is
a motor, and 2063 is a cam mechanism for driving the pump 2053 and moving
the cap 2051 and the blade 2059, with the power transmitted from the motor
2061.
Next, the above mentioned head cartridge 9 will be described in detail.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the head cartridge 9 integral with a
discharge unit 9a that is an ink jet recording head body and an ink tank
9b, where 906e is a click engaged by a hook 13 on the carriage 11 in
attaching the head cartridge 9. As clearly shown, the click 906e is
disposed within a whole extension of the recording head. And near the
discharge unit 9a in front of the head cartridge 9 is provided an abutting
portion for positioning, not shown. 906f is a head opening section into
which a support plate provided on the carriage 11 for supporting a
flexible substrate (electrical connection portion) and rubber pad is
inserted.
FIGS. 4A and 4B show exploded perspective views of the head cartridge as
shown in FIG. 3, which is of a disposable type integrated with an ink
storage section which is a supply source of ink, as described above.
In the same figure, 911 is a heater board comprising an electricity heat
conversion element (discharge heater) and a wiring made of Al or the like
for supplying the electric power to it, which are formed on a Si substrate
with the film technique. 921 is a wiring substrate for the heater board,
the corresponding wirings being connected in a wire bonding method, for
example.
940 is a roof plate provided with a diaphragm for restricting an ink flow
path and a common liquid chamber, made of a resin material integrated with
an orifice plate section in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4C, the
discharge port formation face is inclined by a predetermined angle .theta.
with respect to a plane parallel to a record face of recording paper, and
has a step 940a in the vicinity of discharge ports. This was made
correspondingly to a predetermined angle between a flow path within an
orifice plate portion and a back flow path therefrom, for the machining of
the discharge ports which are radiated with a laser beam from the flow
path provided on the roof plate.
930 is a carrier made of, for example, metal, and 950 is a presser spring,
between which are engagingly carried the heater board 911 and the roof
plate 940, to thereby tightly fix them with an energizing force of the
presser spring 950. It should be noted that the carrier 930 is pasted with
the wiring substrate 921, and has a positioning reference to the carriage
11 for scanning with the head. The carrier 930 also functions as a cooling
member for radiating the heat on the heater board 911 generated by
driving.
960 is a supply tank, which functions as a subtank for receiving ink from
an ink storage 9b which is an ink supply source and for conducting ink
into the common liquid chamber formed by the joint of the heater board 911
and the roof plate 940. 970 is a filter disposed in a position within the
supply tank 960 near an ink supply port into the common liquid chamber,
and 980 is a lid member for the supply tank 960.
900 is an absorbing member for being impregnated with ink, disposed within
the ink tank body 9b. 1200 is a supply port for supplying the ink to a
discharge unit 9a comprising each of portions 911-980 as above indicated,
for allowing the impregnation of ink into the absorbing member 900 by
injecting the ink through the supply port 1200, in a process before this
unit is placed on a portion 1010 of the ink tank body 9b.
1100 is a lid member for the cartridge body, and 1300 is an atmosphere
communicating port provided on the lid member for communicating the inside
of the cartridge to the atmosphere.
After the ink has been filled via the supply port 1200 into the ink tank
9b, the discharge unit 9a consisting of each of the portions 911-980 is
positioned and disposed on the portion 1010. The positioning or fixing at
this time can be performed, for example, by fitting a projection 1012 on
the ink tank body 9b into a corresponding hole 931 on the carrier 930,
thereby resulting in the complete head cartridge 9 as shown in FIG. 4B.
And the ink is supplied from the inside of the cartridge through a supply
port 1200, a hole 932 on the carrier 930 and an inlet port on the back
side of the supply tank 960 as shown in FIG. 4A into the supply tank 960,
and after passing through the inside of the supply tank 960, the ink flows
out of an outlet port through an appropriate supply tube and an inlet port
942 on the roof plate 940 into the common liquid chamber. At the
connections for communicating ink as indicated above, packings such as
silicone rubber or butyl rubber are disposed, thereby sealing those
connections to secure the ink supply path.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are upper and side views showing the carriage 2011 in
detail, respectively.
2606 is a support plate provided on a bottom portion of the carriage 2011,
for supporting a flexible substrate 2604 and a rubber pad 2605 having
projection portions 2605A corresponding to terminal pads formed in the
substrate 2604.
2607 is an abutting member which is also provided on the bottom portion in
front of the carriage 2011. The abutting member 2607 is formed so that its
wall thickness is thin, in order to preserve a maximum space for the of
ink tank within a limited range of space for disposing both the head
cartridge 2009 and the carriage 2011. Hence, on the member 2607 are formed
three ribs 2608 to secure the strength thereof. The extending direction of
the ribs 2608 is the movement direction of the carriage 2011 so as to have
a sufficient strength to withstand the movement of the head cartridge in
the swivel direction when it is detached. The ribs 2608 are formed to be
about 0.1 mm forwardly of the discharge face when the head cartridge 2009
is attached. Thereby even when a recording paper protrudes toward the
travel path of the recording head with any action, the recording paper is
prevented from rubbing the discharge face and causing damage.
An operation lever 2015 for attaching or detaching the head cartridge
freely rotatably bears on a shaft 2601d on the carriage body 2011. A hook
2013 is used, with the movement engaging with a portion of the operation
lever 2015, to attach or detach the head cartridge 2009 which is partly in
engagement with that operation lever 2015. The hook 2013 can perform the
above mentioned attaching or detaching operation by guiding a long hole
2603c formed therein into a guide shaft 2601c on the carriage body 2011.
As the attaching or detaching mechanism consisting of the operation lever
2015 and the hook 2013 is provided laterally of the carriage 2011, or in
the movement direction side of the carriage 2011, the attaching or
detaching mechanism does not create any large dead space due to the
movement of the carriage.
Next, an abutting portion used to position the head cartridge when
attaching will be described.
2601a are abutting portions for positioning the head cartridge in the left
and right directions, provided at two locations on the both sides of the
abutting member 2607. It should be noted that for positioning the head
cartridge in the left and right directions, an abutting portion 2601f on
the support plate 2606 may be also used, in addition to the abutting
portions 2601a.
2601b is an abutting portion to position the cartridge in the forward and
backward directions, formed in a laterally underside portion of the
abutting member 2607.
2601c is abutting portions to position the cartridge in the upper and lower
directions, formed at two locations, i.e., in a laterally underside
portion of the abutting member 2607 and a laterally underside portion of
the support plate.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are upper and left side views showing the state when the
head cartridge 2009 is attached onto the carriage 2011, respectively.
In these figures, 2906a is a direct contact portion provided on the head
cartridge 2009 so as to come into direct contact with an abutting portion
of the carriage 2011, when the recording head is attached, while 2906b and
2906c are also direct contact portions corresponding to the abutting
portions 2601b and 2601c, respectively.
Referring now to FIG. 6A, the engagement relations between portions when
the recording head is attached will be outlined.
The direct contact portion 2906a of the head cartridge 2009 is directly in
contact with the abutting portion 2601a of the carriage 2006, while
simultaneously the clock 2906 of the head cartridge 2009 is forced to the
left side in the figure, with the energizing force of a coil spring 2610
against the hook 2013 engaged therein, whereby the head cartridge 2009 is
subject to the moment force around the above mentioned direct contact
portion. Then a substrate 2906d on the head is brought into direct contact
with the abutting portion 2601f, so that the head cartridge 2009 can be
positioned in both left and right directions, thereby holding that
position.
At this time, the projection portion 2605A of the rubber pad 2605 is
compressed by coming into direct contact with the substrate 2906d. This
deformation causes a force pressing a terminal pad of the flexible
substrate 2604 into contact with a terminal of the substrate 2906d, in
which as the substrate 2906d is in direct contact with the abutting
portion 2601f, the amount of deformation for the projection portion 2605A
is kept constant, thereby causing a stable pressing force as indicated
above.
In the above figure, the compressed state of the projection portion 2605A
is not shown.
The forward or backward and upper or lower positioning for the head
cartridge 2009 can performed in the attaching process.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the above mentioned carriage
2011.
Here, 2613 is a roller spring as described later, and 2615 is a lever stop
for mounting an operation lever 2015 onto a mounting portion 2617 on the
carriage 2011. 2619 is a mounting member constituting one end portion of a
flexible cable 2021, for fixing upper edge portions of a flexible
substrate 2604 and a rubber pad 2605 integrated therewith in this example
to the support plate 2606, while 2621 is also a mounting member for fixing
lower edge portions thereof.
In addition to the construction as above mentioned, a substrate cover 2623
is provided for covering the flexible substrate 2604 on the carriage side
when the head cartridge 2009 is not attached, and protecting the flexible
substrate 2604 and a circuit within the main body connected thereto, from
a contact with hands of an operator and a breakage due to the contact or
an action of an electrostatic force. This substrate cover 2623 is
rotatably secured into pins 2621A on the lower edge portion mounting
member 2621 for the substrate. 2625 is a spring for exerting a tendency to
rotate the substrate cover 2623 toward the direction of covering the
flexible substrate 2604, and 2627 is a recess for housing the substrate
cover 2623 when the head cartridge 2009 is attached.
Referring now to FIGS. 7B and 7C, the operation of the substrate cover 2623
will be described. When the head cartridge 2009 is not attached, the
substrate cover 2623 covers a flexible substrate 2604 with a biasing force
of a spring 2625, as shown in FIG. 7B. If the head cartridge 2009 is
attached from an upper side in the above state, the substrate cover 2623
is rotated clockwise in the figure around pins 2621A against the biasing
force of the spring 2625, with the engagement between the lower surface of
the head cartridge and a cover operation portion 2623A, or the engagement
between an operator hand and the operation portion 2623A. And if the head
cartridge 2009 is completely attached, and the substrate 2604 is placed in
direct contact with the substrate 2906d on the head side, the cover 2623
is housed in the recess 2627 by being pressed against the lower surface of
the head cartridge 2009, as shown in FIG. 7C. It should be noted that if
the head cartridge 2009 is removed, the cover 2623 immediately returns to
the state as shown in FIG. 7B, thereby protecting the substrate 2604.
FIG. 8A is a typical side view for mainly showing a recording medium
conveying system of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 8A shows an arrangement of each of elements at the normal conveyance
of a recording medium. The recording medium fed from a feed paper tray not
shown is introduced into a conveying path formed between a conveying
roller 2033 and a paper pan 2037. In this conveying path, the recording
medium is conveyed with the friction force between the conveying roller
2033 and the recording medium, based on the pressing force of the feed
roller 2039, by the conveying roller 2033 rotating clockwise in the
figure. Thereafter, the recording medium is introduced between the
conveying roller 2033 and a paper presser bar 2045, and then also conveyed
with the friction force between the conveying roller 2033 and the
recording medium, based on the pressing force of the paper presser bar
2045. Further, the recording medium is regulated in the direction by the
paper presser bar 2045, and conveyed along a platen 2034 between a paper
exhausting roller 2041 and a spur 2042, while the recording is performed
onto the recording medium with the discharge of ink droplet from a
recording head cartridge 2009.
FIG. 8B is a top view showing a paper pan 2037, and a release plate for
forcing it in the direction toward the conveying roller 2033, which are
separated for clarity of explanation.
Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the mechanism for conveying a recording
medium will be described. In these figures, 2040 is a release plate which
is a member for pressing a feed roller 2039 to a conveying roller 2033 via
a paper pan 2037, and releasing that pressing force. The release plate
2040 rotatably bears on an axis such that axis portions 2040c provided on
the ends thereof are in engagement with axis holes 2101A on an axis
bearing member 2101 for the release plate 2040 disposed on a bottom plate
2100 of the mechanism, so that if this portion is forced obliquely toward
the right lower direction by a spring 2401 engaging at two end positions
of the release plate 2040, the release plate 2040 rotates clockwise by
bearing on the axis portion 2040c, as shown in FIG. 8A. 2371 donates ribs
provided at two locations underneath the paper pan 2037. The ribs 2371 are
brought into contact with the pressing portion 2040A during the above
rotation of the release plate 2040, and pressed upwardly in FIG. 8A.
Thereby the feeder roller 2039 which bears on the ribs 2371 presses the
conveying roller 2033.
The release of pressing force with the release plate 2040 is performed in
such a way that a shoulder 2040b extending at one end of the release plate
2040 is pressed downwardly in FIG. 8A against the rotation force owing to
a spring 2401. If this pressing force is released, the paper pan 2037 and
the feed roller 2039 move downwardly by their weights, thereby providing a
predefined amount of space between the feed roller 2039 and the conveying
roller 2033.
2372 is a rectangular projection portion formed when a portion of the paper
pan 2037 extends downwardly. In the projection portion 2372 is provided a
rectangular hole 2372A, which engages a projection 2102 upstanding on the
bottom plate 2100 with a predetermined amount of looseness. With this
engagement, the positioning of the paper pan 2037, and hence the feed
roller 2039 with respect to the conveying roller 2033 can be performed.
With the arrangement having a looseness in the above engagement, an adverse
effect due to so called kicking, which occurs when a trailing portion of a
recording medium to be conveyed passes through the feed roller 2039, can
be eliminated. While the recording medium is transferred from the state
where a trailing portion of the recording medium is pressed against the
conveying roller 2033 by the feed roller 2039 as shown in FIG. 9A, to the
state where the feed roller 2039 and the conveying roller 2033 are in
direct contact with each other as shown in FIG. 9B, the recording medium
is forced out between the feed roller 2039 and the conveying roller 2033.
In a conventional construction, especially when the recording medium is an
envelope or a cardboard, such kicking phenomenon occurs with the force
exerting on various portions in forcing out the recording medium.
For example, in a conventional construction for carrying the paper pan as
shown in FIG. 9C, or in a construction where the boss 2371A of the paper
pan 2037 is carried by the engagement portion 2400A of the energizing
member 2400 to prevent movement in the forward and backward directions
(left and right directions in the figure), the feed roller 2039 can not
escape in a reverse direction to the direction of forcing the recording
medium out, thereby causing the conveying roller 2033 to be rotated in
forcing out the recording medium, so that the recording medium is conveyed
by a greater distance than a predetermined amount. Consequently, there
occurred such a problem that a recording position on the recording medium
is deviated.
On the contrary, in the construction in accordance with this example as
shown in FIG. 8A and FIGS. 9A and 9B, the paper pan can escape by a
distance d with the above engagement in the right direction in the
figures, in forcing out a trailing portion of the recording medium, in
which the force due to the extrusion will not be exerted on the recording
medium and the conveying roller 33, thereby such a problem as mentioned
above does not occur.
Referring now to FIG. 8A again, 2451 is a spring for biasing the paper
presser bar 2045 in the direction toward the platen 2033.
The spring 2451 has one end thereof extending from the coil-shaped portion
engaged with a portion of the paper presser bar 2045, and the other end
engaged with a portion of the bottom plate 2100 of the mechanism. The
coil-shaped portion bears on a portion of the bottom plate 2100. The paper
presser bar 2045 is pressed via a roller 2091 provided on a leading
portion of the carriage 2011 against the carriage 2011, as described
later. The distance between the discharge ports of the head cartridge 2009
and a record face of the recording medium can be properly maintained by
the biasing force via the roller 2091 by the spring 2045.
The paper presser bar 2045 also exerts the pressing force on the conveying
roller 33 via the recording medium due to the biasing force as above
described, thereby conveying the recording medium with a friction force
between the recording medium and the conveying roller 33 based on that
pressing force.
Here, to convey successfully various types of recording media, it is
requisite to make appropriate the friction force between the paper presser
bar and the recording medium, and between the conveying roller and the
recording medium. In other words, it is desirable that the friction force
between the paper presser bar and the recording medium is as small as
possible, while that between the conveying roller and the recording medium
is as large as possible.
Further, it is also desired to make the friction force between the paper
presser bar and the conveying roller as small as possible. This is because
if that friction force is large, the motor load becomes large at so-called
idle feeding. If a predetermined amount of gap is provided between the
paper presser bar and the conveying roller to avoid it, the precision
control becomes difficult with respect to the pressing of the recording
medium against the platen.
Hence, in this example, the material of the paper presser bar 2045 is POM
(polyacetal), and that of the conveying roller 2033 is CR (chloroprene
rubber, hardness 60.degree. in JIS K6301A scale) mixed with 5-10% (weight
ratio) of monofilament of nylon resin. Fluororesin can be also used for
the paper presser bar 2045.
It should be noted that the hardness of above mentioned chloroprene rubber
was 60.degree., but if it is within the range from 50.degree. to
70.degree., it does not have an adverse effect on the conveyance of the
recording paper. It is not necessary that the conveying roller 2033 and
the paper presser bar 2045 are entirely made of the material as above
indicated, but only direct contact portions may be constructed of that
material, or further the paper presser bar and the conveying roller can be
formed by pasting a sheet member of the above material onto the body
portion.
As the friction coefficient between the paper presser bar 2045 and the
recording medium can be reduced by fabricating the paper presser bar and
the conveying roller with any of above materials, the paper presser bar
2045 can be configured to press against the conveying roller 2033, as
described above. Consequently, the distance between the recording medium
and the head cartridge can be controlled more easily than that in a
previous construction which did not allow for various paper thicknesses of
recording medium. As the friction coefficient between the recording medium
and the conveying roller is larger, the sliding does not occur during the
conveyance, whereby the successful conveyance of the recording medium can
be accomplished.
In FIG. 8A, 2046 is a shaft member which extends parallel to the paper
presser bar 2045, in which both ends thereof bear on the device frame,
with its cross-section being a D character shape. When a recording medium
is conveyed, the rotation position is determined so that a straight
portion of the D character shape is placed in a longitudinal direction
(from the upper to the lower direction in the same figure). On the other
hand, when the pressing force of the paper presser bar 2045 against the
conveying roller 2033 is released as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the
straight portion of the paper presser bar is directed transversely (from
the left to the right direction in FIG. 8A) so as to come into direct
contact with a portion of the spring 2451, causing the spring to be
biased, thereby releasing the engagement between the spring 2451 and the
paper presser bar 2045. Thus, the pressing force is only released without
changing the position of the paper presser bar 2045.
Consequently, even if the carriage is operated with the pressing force
being released for the insertion of a recording medium, the head cartridge
and the carriage are not damaged with the interference between the head
cartridge and carriage and the paper presser bar. In other words, it is
possible to perform various operations by moving the carriage, even while
the pressing force of the paper presser bar is being released. The
pressing force against the paper presser bar 2045 via the roller 2091 is
not released in this case, but this pressing force is directed to one
point of a portion where the paper presser bar 2045 is opposed to the
carriage 2011, and so it does not have any problem for inserting the
recording medium.
In FIG. 8A, 2041 is a paper exhausting roller, with which a spur 2042
engages. The spur 2042 is energized against the paper exhausting roller
2041 by the energizing means as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in which the
recording medium can be also conveyed with the friction force between the
recording medium and the paper exhausting roller 2041 based on that
pressing force, as previously described. The spur 2042 is energized via a
holding member 2042A against the paper exhausting roller 2041 as described
above, and can be released from the engagement therewith, by the detaching
operation from the paper exhausting roller 2041 via the holding member
2042A.
As described above, the paper pan 2037 (feed roller 2039), the paper
presser bar 2045 and the spur 2042 as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B can be
released from their energizing forces in the respective forms. Those
releases can be performed simultaneously by the operation of a release
lever 2043 as shown in FIG. 2, resulting in the state as shown in FIG. 8C.
FIGS. 10A and 10B, and FIGS. 11A and 11B are views showing the mechanism
for releasing the above mentioned energizing forces, in which FIGS. 10A
and 10B show that mechanism of the recording apparatus viewed from the
right side, while FIGS. 11A and 11B show the same mechanism viewed from
the left.
FIG. 10A and 11A show a state where the energizing force in conveying a
recording medium is not released. Then the release lever 2043 which
rotatably bears on a shaft of the conveying roller 2033 is placed in a
laid position due to the energizing force of a spring as described later,
whereby a cam member 2431 fixed to the lever 2043, a gear 2432, and a gear
2432' disposed on the other end portion opposite to the end portion at
which the lever 2043 is disposed, and fixed to the shaft coaxial with that
of the conveying roller 2033 are in engagement with a shoulder portion
2040B of the release plate 2040 and a train of gears for rotating a shaft
member 2046, with predetermined positional relations. Spur arms 2421 and
2421' extending from the spur holding member 2042 and disposed on both end
portions thereof are forced backwardly of the device via the respective
engagement portions 2421B and 2421B' in engagement with the lever 2043 and
the connection member 2433, by the tensile forces of the springs 2422 and
2422'. In this energizing condition, the engagement portions 2421A and
2421A' provided on the respective spur arms can engage with the shaft of
the paper exhausting roller 2041, so that the appropriate engagement
between the spur 2042 and the paper exhausting roller 2041 with a proper
position and a pressing force can be accomplished.
As the engagement of the spur arms 2421 with the release lever 2043 is
accomplished with a predetermined amount of looseness, the appropriate
engagement of the spur 2042 with the paper exhausting roller 2041 can be
performed without requiring a great precision for the shape of the spur
arms 2421 and so on.
The rotation of the release lever 2043 is transmitted via a gear 2432 and a
train of intermediate gears to the shaft member 2046, and therefrom to a
train of intermediate gears and a gear 2432' on the opposite end portion,
and the connection member 2433, finally moving the spur arm 2421'. In this
case, the looseness due to the backlash between the gears interposed
therein can be absorbed by the engagement with a looseness between the
release lever 2043 and the spur arm 2421 as shown above.
It should be noted that a member that can be released from the energized
condition with the above configuration is not limited to the spur, but may
be any type of roller for conveying a recording medium.
FIGS. 10B and 11B show the state where the spur 2042, the paper presser bar
2045 and the paper pan 2037 have been released from the respective
energized conditions. These releases can be accomplished by rotating the
release lever 2043 forwardly of the device against the tensile force with
the spring 2422.
That is, if the release lever 2043 is rotated, the gear 2432 is rotated
accordingly. Then, as described above, the shaft member 2046 is rotated
via the train of intermediate gears in engagement with the gear 2432,
thereby making a straight line portion of the D character shape
cross-wise, so that the shaft member 2046 forces the spring 2451 toward
the direction for narrowing the spring 2451, as described above in FIG.
8A, thus releasing the engagement between the spring 2451 and the paper
presser bar 2045, and so releasing the energizing force for the paper
presser bar 2045.
Along with the rotation of the release lever 2043, a cam 2431 can be
rotated. With a cam portion of the cam member 2431 is engaged the shoulder
portion 2040B of the release plate 2040, as described above in FIG. 10,
and when the cam member 2431 rotates, the release plate 2040 lowers its
position and thus releases the engagement with the ribs 2371 of the paper
pan 2037, thereby not pressing the ribs 2371. Consequently, the force for
energizing the paper pan 2037 (feed roller 2039) toward the conveying
roller 2033 is released, and the paper pan 2037 falls downward by its
weight. With the rotation of the release lever 2043, the shoulder portion
2040B and a step-like cam portion of the cam member 2431 are finally
engaged, so that the engagement position thereof is fixed, and therefore
the rotational position of the release lever 2043 is fixed.
Furthermore, with the rotation of the release lever 2043, the spur arm 2421
moves forwardly of the device, and with the transmission of the rotation
via the shaft member 2046, as described above, the spur arm 2421' on the
opposite end portion moves forwardly of the device, whereby the spur 2042
connected to the spur arms 2421, 2421' is released from the engagement
with the paper exhausting roller 2041.
In this way, by rotating the release lever once, the energizing force for
the paper pan, the paper presser bar and the spur can be released, which
is accomplished with a simple construction.
It should be noted that a support for the paper pan is constructed with the
energizing against the release plate, and the engagement between a
projection provided on the bottom plate of device and a long hole of the
paper pan in the above example, but it is also constructed such that the
shape of the engagement portion 2400 is a long hole toward which the paper
pan can run off, as shown in FIG. 9C.
FIG. 12 is a typical front view showing a knob fixed to the shaft of the
conveying roller 2033 and an assembled state of the release lever as above
mentioned, and FIG. 15 is a typical exploded view.
In FIG. 12, a driven gear 2321 for rotating the conveying roller 2033 is
fixed to a shaft 2333 of the conveying roller 2033, while a knob 2005 is
fixed to the shaft 2333 by a spring pin 2332 drifted into the shaft 2333.
The release lever 2043 freely rotatably bears on the shaft between them,
but has a range of rotation restricted by a spring as above described.
FIG. 13 is a view for explaining a sequence of assembling the above
construction. As shown in the same figure, the spring pin 2332 has been
drifted into the shaft 2333 beforehand, to which a gear 2331 is fixed. The
release lever 2043 is inserted into the shaft 2333 in this state through
an opening section 2043A. The opening section 2043A has a shape through
which the shaft 2333 and the spring pin 2332 can pass as shown in the same
figure, whereby the release lever 2043 can move beyond a position where
the spring pin 2332 was drifted, to the side of gear 2331. Thereafter, a
knob 2044 is fixed by fitting the spring pin 2332 into a slit 2005A while
inserting the knob 2005 into the shaft 2333.
With the above construction, the axial movement of the release lever 2043
can be restricted by means of the gear 2331 and the knob 2005, and the
knob 2044 can be fixed by means of the spring pin 2332. As the spring pin
2332 is drifted beforehand into the shaft 2333, the assembling is simpler
than a case where the spring pin is drifted after inserting the lever.
FIGS. 14 and 15 are side and upper views showing the mechanism around a
head cartridge 9 as shown in FIG. 2.
In these FIGS. 2091 is a roller which freely rotatably bears on a shaft at
a front end portion of the carriage 2011, as previously described. The
roller 2091 is provided so that a portion thereof may project forwardly of
a discharge port face of the head cartridge, in which it comes into direct
contact with the paper presser bar 2045 and rotates thereon. 2613 is a
roller spring provided on a trailing portion of the carriage 2011. The
roller spring 2613 is comprised of a roller 2613A, a connection member
2613B on which the roller 2613A bears, and a spring 2613C for energizing
the connection member 2613B toward a predetermined rotational direction.
The roller 2613A is brought into direct contact with a front end plate
2105 extending parallel to a guide shaft as previously described at a
front end portion of the bottom plate 2100 of device, on which it rolls.
The connection member 2613B freely rotatably bears on a predetermined
shaft 2113 of the carriage 2011, while the spring 2613C is carried on a
predetermined axis to force the connection member 2613B to rotate
counterclockwise around the shaft 2113. With the above construction of the
roller spring 2613, the carriage 2011 is always energized toward the paper
presser bar 2045.
2025 denotes bearings for engaging with a guide shaft 2023, mounted on both
side end portions of the carriage 2011. The bearings 2025 have the bearing
portion eccentric to the case to be mounted, in which two bearings 2025
are mounted with the eccentric direction being opposite to each other. The
bearing 2025 on the side as shown in FIG. 14 is able to swing around a
boss 2112 on the carriage 2011. That is, a portion of the carriage 2011 to
which this bearing 2025 is mounted is formed with a long hole, with two
projections 2025A of the bearing 2025 regulating the movement in the
forward or backward direction (the left or right direction in FIG. 14) in
conjunction with the boss 2112. Consequently, this bearing 2025 swings
relative to the carriage 2011, in correspondence with the movement of the
carriage 2011, as will be described later. The movement of this bearing
2025 in the direction toward the guide shaft 2023 is regulated to a part
of the carriage 2011 (refer to FIG. 7A) by a projection 2025B provided on
the bearing 2025.
Referring now to FIGS. 16A through 17, the automatic adjustment of an
interval (thereafter referred to as a gap) between a recording medium and
a discharge port face of the head cartridge, based on the construction of
the roller 2091, the roller spring 2613 and bearings 2025 will be
described in the following.
The automatic adjustment of the gap can be performed depending on the
thickness of a recording medium inserted between the paper presser bar
2045 and the platen roller 2033. When the recording is performed onto a
relatively thin, ordinarily used recording medium as shown in FIG. 16A,
the left bearing 2025 in FIGS. 16A and 16B are located almost centrally in
the long hole. The carriage 2011 is energized toward the paper presser bar
2045 by a reaction force from the front end plate 2105 biased by the roll
spring 2613, whereby the roller 2091 presses the paper presser bar 2045.
Respective reaction forces against the force with which the roller 2091
presses the paper presser bar 2045, and the force with which the above
mentioned roller spring 2613 biases the front end plate 2105 may cause the
moments around the right bearing in FIGS. 16A and 16B, respectively, and
the position of the bearing 14 in the long hole as indicated above can be
determined when two moments are in equilibrium. In other words, the guide
shaft 2023 fixed to the body of device, and hence the position of the
carriage 2011 relative to the bearings 2025 are determined, so that a gap
d between discharge ports of the head cartridge 2009 mounted thereon and a
recording medium can be determined.
FIG. 16B shows a position of the carriage 2011 when the recording is
performed onto a relatively thick recording medium, e.g. an envelope. In
this case, the roller 2091, and hence the carriage 2011, retract
downwardly in the same figure due to the thickness of a recording medium,
as compared with those in FIG. 16A. Thereby a reaction force from the
front end plate 2105 caused by the roll spring 2613 changes, so that an
equilibrium position of the above moments correspondingly changes.
Consequently, a relative position between the bearing 2025 on the left
side in the figure and the carriage 2011 changes, whereby the carriage
2011 has its front end portion open to the left side in FIGS. 16A and 16B,
and the gap between the discharge ports and the recording medium is almost
equal to a gap d as shown in FIG. 16A. In this case, the bearing 2025 on
the left side changes the position in the long hole by swinging relatively
as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 17.
It should be noted that a recording medium thicker than an ordinary
cardboard, for example, can be used with the positional change of the
roller 2091, or the paper presser plate 2045 can be left away greatly
corresponding to such cardboard and keep the gap fixed, with the position
of the roller 2091.
In the above construction, as shown particularly in FIG. 17, the roller
spring 2613 presses the roller 2613A downwardly, when the roller 2613A
comes in direct contact with a bowed oblique portion of the front end
plate 2105, so that the whole carriage 2011 is pressed downwardly.
Consequently, the carriage 2011 is prevented from lifting up, so that the
direction of ink discharge from the head cartridge 2009 mounted thereon
can be made stable.
Referring to FIG. 15 again, 2111 is a cut away portion on the left side
lower portion of the carriage 2011, to be engaged with a pulley axis 2290A
near a home position. This engagement is accomplished when the carriage
2011 moves to a cap position on the discharge port face, and in this
engagement position, the discharge port face is covered with the cap 2051
(see FIG. 2).
With this engagement, even if the oscillation is applied to the recording
apparatus, the cap 2051 is not detached from the discharge port face of
the head cartridge 2009 because the carriage 2011 can not move in the
forward or backward direction, whereby the capping is performed reliably.
As the pulley axis 2290A is also used to engage with the cut away portion
2111 of the carriage 2011, no particular member is necessary for this
engagement, resulting in a simple and cheap construction.
Further, the cut away portion 2111 is formed with a beveled inlet portion
so as to facilitate the engagement with the pulley axis 2290. Therefore
the engagement can be easily accomplished, even when the carriage 2011 is
displaced depending on the thickness of a paper.
FIG. 18 is a typical elevation view of the head cartridge 2009 and the
carriage 2011 viewed from a recording medium side.
As clearly shown, the carriage 2011 and the head cartridge 2009 mounted
thereon are inclined to the guide shaft 2023, and hence to the moving
direction of the carriage 2011, so that the direction of an array of the
discharge ports is also inclined.
This inclination is made by using two bearings 2025 whose bearing portions
are eccentric as above described. That is, the left bearing 2025 (right
bearing in FIG. 18) is mounted with its eccentric position located
downwardly, as seen in FIG. 14 and FIG. 17, while the right bearing 2025
(left bearing in FIG. 18) is mounted with its eccentric position located
upwardly.
The configuration in which the array of discharge ports is inclined as
shown above is used when a plurality of discharge ports are driven with
the time division. An ink jet recording head is generally driven with the
time division from a view-point that the recording speed and the drive
power can not be increased. For example, in a case where the vertically
arranged 64 discharge ports are divided into 8 blocks to drive with the
time division, if the array of discharge ports is not inclined, the
recording is performed on a recording paper, as shown in FIG. 19A, taking
into consideration the carriage movement, which represents slanting lines
as macroscopically seen. On the contrary, if the array of discharge ports
is inclined as in this example, the recording is performed as shown in
FIG. 19B, which represents vertical lines as macroscopically seen. It
should be noted that this inclination is not only effective to the time
division drive for each block, but also to the time division drive for
each discharge port. Here, in FIGS. 19A and 19B, 4001 is a recording
medium, and 4002 is a line recorded on the recording medium.
Since the inclination according to this example is accomplished by the
bearings 2025 mounted on both side end portions of the carriage 2011, the
precision of the inclination is easy to raise, because the distance
between these bearings is relatively long. And as one type of bearing is
necessary to mount in opposite vertical directions, the inclination is
simply constructed. Furthermore, when the timings for the time division
driving are different depending on the speed of the carriage, the
inclination according to the above mentioned timing can be constructed by
changing only the bearings without changes of the carriage and the
recording head, so that it is possible to make a common use of the
carriage.
FIGS. 20A and 20B are upper and elevation views showing the detail near a
pulley 2029B disposed on the right end portion of the device, wherein two
pulleys are used to drive a timing belt for moving the carriage.
On the pulley 2029B is fixed coaxially a driven gear 2291, which mates with
a drive gear 2294 fixed to the rotation axis of the carriage motor 2031. A
bracket 2292 freely rotatably bears on a shaft to which the pulley 2029B
and the gear 2291 are fixed.
One end of a spring 2293 is connected to the bracket 2292, while the other
end thereof is connected to a projection 2106 disposed on the bottom plate
2100. Thereby the bracket 2292 is energized in the direction deviated by a
predetermined angle from the direction along which the timing belt 2027
extends. Then the bracket 2292 (and the gear 2291 and the pulley 2029B
which bear on the shaft thereof) moves freely, except that it is
restricted in the upper or lower direction by the L-shaped members 2295A
and 2295B provided on the bottom plate 2100 and in a predetermined
direction along the bottom plate 2100. Accordingly, with the above
mentioned energizing force by the spring 2293, the tension on the timing
belt 2027 and the mating force between the gear 2291 and the gear 2274 can
be obtained depending on each component of the spring force.
FIGS. 21 and 22 are a timing chart and a flowchart, respectively, for
showing the control procedure in the recording position instructed mode
for an ink jet recording apparatus according to this example.
The recording position instructed mode in accordance with this example is a
control procedure that is activated when the recording is performed onto a
formatted paper or a recording paper already once recorded, such as in an
electronic typewriter which can use the recording position in accordance
with this example. That is, the recording position and range are set and
confirmed while moving the carriage (recording head), and during that
period no ink droplet is discharged. Hence, in order to prevent the ink
from being thick or undischarged, the predischarge and the capping are
needed, in which the carriage is moved to a position for the predischarge
for every predetermined time, by interrupting the processing such as the
setting of recording position with the carriage.
Referring now to a timing chart of FIG. 21 and based on a flowchart of FIG.
22, the control procedure in the recording position instructed mode will
be described.
If a command for instructing recording position is issued with a
predetermined key input, this control procedure is activated, the cap 2051
is opened at step S201 (FIG. 21, only the timing is noted thereafter), and
at step S202, the carriage 2011 is moved toward an instructed position,
for example, by the input of space keys (timing 2). Meanwhile, at step
S203, a determination is made whether a position is set with a
predetermined key input for the instructed position, when the carriage
2011 has reached the instructed position, and if not, at S204, another
determination is made whether a predetermined time T seconds have passed
since the opening of the cap.
If T seconds have passed, a current position of the carriage 2011 is stored
at S205, and the carriage 2011 is moved to a predischarge position at S206
(timing Further, a predetermined amount of ink is predischarged (A times)
at S207 (timing 4). Then at step S208, the carriage 2011 is returned to
the previously stored position, and at step S209, it is moved to the
instructed position in the same way as above described. Meanwhile, at step
S210, a determination is made whether a position is set with a
predetermined key input for the instructed position in the same way as
above described, and if not, another determination is made at step S211
whether a predetermined time .alpha. seconds have passed since the command
for instructing position was issued, or this control procedure started.
This .alpha. seconds was set because the setting of the instructed
position would be normally terminated during this time, and because if the
recording head is kept open without the cap beyond that period, it will
cause a significant damage to the discharge of ink droplet.
If a negative determination is made at step S211, another determination is
made at step S212 whether a predetermined time t seconds have passed since
the previous predischarge, and if so, the processing proceeds to steps
S213 and S214 which are the same as those above described, then the
recording head predischarges B times at step S215, and flow returns to
step S208.
If a position is set with a predetermined key input for the instructed
position at step S203 or S210, the position is stored at step S216 or
S217, and if a determination is made at step S211 that .alpha. seconds
have passed, the processing proceeds to step S218.
At step S218, the carriage 2011 is moved to the capping position (timing
5), the capping is conducted at step S219 (timing 6), the instruction mode
is reset at step S220, and then the processing is terminated.
It should be noted that the elapsed times t, t and .alpha. seconds as above
indicated can be set depending on the temperature or humidity in the
atmosphere, or may be automatically set based on the detection by a
sensor, e.g., a thermal sensor.
The movement to the instructed position with the control procedure as shown
above can be performed while a user keeps the space key down, in which the
position of the carriage 2011 relative to a recording medium, or the
position of the discharge ports can be known, by using both a marker 2049
on the carriage 2011 and a scale 2047 on the paper presser bar 2045, as
shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 15. It should be noted that the position of the
marker 2049 is offset from that of the discharge ports, this offset amount
is prestored, and automatically corrected in the recording operation. As
the scale 2047 is provided on a particular member of the ink jet recording
apparatus, such as a paper presser bar 2045, it is possible to adjust the
scale to the recording medium in close proximity.
Similarly, in the operation such as the movement to the instructed
position, the amount of movement of the carriage 2011 can be known by
using a marker 2017 on the lever as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 15, and a
scale (not shown) indicated on a window 2008 on a cover of the device as
shown in FIG. 1A.
In this way, the construction of using the markers 2049, 2017 and other
scales is especially effective in returning the carriage to the
interrupted position again, when the position confirming operation with
the movement of carriage is interrupted due to the predischarge in the ink
jet recording apparatus.
The recording method used in this invention has an excellent effect on a
recording apparatus having a recording head with the ink jet recording
method, especially a method in which the state change of ink is caused by
the heat energy that is transferred from means for generating the energy
for the discharge of ink (e.g. electricity-heat conversion element or
laser beam). With such method, a higher density and definition of
recording can be accomplished.
The typical construction and principle is preferably based on basic
principles as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and No. 4,740,796.
This method is applicable to both a so-called on-demand type and a
continuance type. Particularly the on-demand type is more effective
because by applying at least one drive signal corresponding to a recording
data and causing a rapid rise of temperature exceeding that of the
nucleate boiling and, to the electricity-heat conversion element disposed
corresponding to a sheet and liquid path where the liquid (ink) is
carried, the heat energy is generated in the electricity-heat conversion
element, and causes the film boiling on the heat acting surface of the
recording head, so that bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed
corresponding one-to-one to that drive signal. With the growth and
contraction of bubbles, the liquid (ink) is discharged through discharge
ports to form at least one droplet. If this drive signal is pulse-shaped,
the growth or contraction of bubbles can be performed immediately and
appropriately, so that the discharge of liquid (ink) is more preferably
accomplished with a particularly efficient response characteristic. This
pulse-shaped drive signal as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and No.
4,345,262 is appropriate. Under the conditions as described in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,313,124 which is an invention concerning the temperature-rise rate
of the above mentioned heat acting surface, more excellent recording can
be performed.
The recording head in accordance with the present invention is constructed
with the combination of discharge ports, liquid paths (straight or
rectangular liquid paths) and electricity-heat conversion elements, or as
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,558,333 and 4,459,600, an arrangement in
which the heat acting portion is disposed in an angled area. In addition,
this invention is also effective with the construction based on Japanese
Patent Laid-Open No. 59-123670 publication which discloses the use of a
common slit as discharge portion for a plurality of electricity-heat
conversion elements, or Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 59-138461
publication which discloses a construction in which an aperture absorbing
the pressure wave of heat energy is disposed corresponding to the
discharge portion. That is, the recording can be reliably and efficiently
performed, according to the present invention, in whatever form the
recording head may be made.
Furthermore, this invention is also effective for a full-line type
recording head where the recording apparatus has a length corresponding to
the maximum width of recording medium to be recorded. Such recording head
is constructed in either a combination of a plurality of recording heads
to fill that length, or an integrally formed recording head.
In addition, this invention is also effective for a serial-type recording
head as above indicated, particularly, a recording head fixed to the body
of apparatus, a replaceable chip type recording head which enables the
electrical connection to the body of apparatus and the supply of ink from
the body of apparatus because it is attached to the body of apparatus, or
a cartridge type recording head integrally formed with the ink tank.
It is preferable that recovery means or preliminary auxiliary means for a
recording head are added to the construction of a recording apparatus
according to this invention, as it can make the effect of this invention
more stable. More specifically, it includes capping means for the
recording head, cleaning means, pressing or suction means, and preliminary
heating means consisting of electricity-heat conversion elements or other
heating elements or the combination of both. And the predischarge mode for
discharging before the recording is effective to make a stable recording.
As to the type and number of recording heads to be attached, for example, a
single type corresponding to a monochromatic ink, or a multiple type
corresponding to a plurality of inks differing in color or density may be
used. That is, the present invention is also quite effective not only for
a recording apparatus having a recording mode based on a main color such
as black, but also an apparatus having at least one of the composite color
of different colors or the full color with mixed colors, with either an
integrally formed recording head or a plurality of recording heads.
Furthermore, though the ink is considered as the liquid in the examples of
the present invention as described above, it is also preferable that the
ink stiffens below the room temperature and softens or liquefies at the
room temperature, or as it is common in the ink jet method to control the
temperature to maintain the viscosity of ink within a certain range for
stably discharging with the temperature adjustment of ink in the range
from 30.degree. C. to 70.degree. C., the ink will liquefy when a use
recording signal is issued. In addition, the present invention is also
applicable when the ink has the property of liquefying only with the
application of the heat energy, such as the ink which liquefies with the
application of heat energy in accordance with a record signal to discharge
the liquid ink, or the ink which already begins to stiffen at the time
when it arrives at a recording medium, with such a manner of preventing
the rise of temperature with the heat energy by positively using the heat
as the energy for the change of state from the solid state of ink to the
liquid state, or utilizing the ink which stiffens in the shelf state in
order to prevent the evaporation of ink. In this case, the ink can be
provided to be opposed to electricity-heat conversion elements, in the
state where the ink is carried in a recess or through hole of a porous
sheet as liquid or solid material. The most effective method for each ink
as above described in the present invention is a film boiling method as
above indicated.
The Entire Structure of the Information Processing Apparatus and Its
Operation!
FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing the structural example of an information
processing apparatus according to the present invention.
In FIG. 23, a reference numeral 1001 designates a CPU (Central Processing
Unit) which controls each unit through a bus line in accordance with
process procedures such as shown in the flowcharts in FIGS. 22A and 22B
and FIG. 24 and various programs stored in ROM (Read Only Memory) 1006.
To a bus line, a keyboard 2001 is connected for inputting characters and
various instructions, and the character information inputted from this
keyboard 2001 is supplied to a document memory which partially constitutes
a RAM (Random Access Memory) 1007 for storage.
Also, a reference numeral 1003 is an image reader for reading printed image
information for storage in the RAM 1007.
The character and image information stored in the RAM 1007 are displayed on
a display 2006 through the bus line in response to the instruction given
by the CPU 1001. Also, the character information and image information are
printed by a printer 1005. The character and image information stored in
the RAM 1007 can be saved in an external memory 1008, a FD, HD and others,
for example, in the form of files.
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the document storing procedures for an
information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
As an embodiment of the illustration editing and printing processes in this
apparatus, the description will be made of the process flow with reference
to FIG. 24 in a case where the image read by an image reader is saved as
an illustration and output in synthesization with documentary data.
At first, the illustration editing function is actuated at the step S2401
to cause the image reader to read at the steps S2402 and S2403 an image
data to be utilized for the storage in the RAM in the main body as
illustration data. Then, at the step S2404, this illustration data is
saved in the external memory 1008, a FD, HD, or others, in the form of a
file. The illustration data thus prepared can be called to be inserted in
other documentary data for synthesizing.
Next, in order to synthesize the illustration data produced and saved as
set forth above or the illustration data prepared and saved by some other
method such as a graphic function provided by the apparatus with the other
documentary data for printing out, a desired illustration data is called
from the external memory 1008 at the time of editing the documentary data
to be synthesized therewith to synthesize them on the screen of the
display 1002 (step S2405). Then, the documentary data produced by such
synthesization is printed (step S2406).
FIG. 25 is a flowchart related to a first embodiment wherein the printing
is performed while improving the degradation of the printing quality due
to the kind of a recording sheet. The procedures required for such process
will be described in conjunction with FIG. 25.
When the printing of image and characters is started, the size of a
printing sheet is judged at the step S2501 for achieving the improvement
of the printing quality which is the object of the present invention. In
the present embodiment, the discrimination is made so as to find whether
the specified recording sheet is a post card size or not. If the size is
found to be the post card size, the judgment is such that the recording
sheet is a post card use and otherwise, an ordinary recording sheet.
In general, the paper used for a post card is inferior in ink fixation as
compared with an ordinary recording sheet, and in the same solid printing
area, there occurs portion where ink has been dried earlier. Accordingly,
the ink is absorbed in such portions and the density becomes thicker while
in other portions from which ink is drawn to such portion, the density
becomes thinner because the amount of ink to be absorbed is reduced, thus
generating the irregularity of densities. Also, this type of paper is more
affected by the density irregularity, slippage, splash and the like
because the ink discharging amount may vary by the high or low ambient
temperature.
Here, therefore, for the purpose of effacing the density irregularity in
the solid printing area to maintain the printing quality, the required
process is differentiated for the kinds of papers, one for the post card
and the other for the ordinary recording sheet, and such discrimination is
made on the basis of the size information to define the printing
conditions. At the step S2501, if the size detected is not the post card
size, then the current printing sheet is judged or presumed to be an
ordinary sheet. The process proceeds to the step S2504 to perform the
solid printing as it is.
Subsequently, in the case of the post card printing, the user's
confirmation is requested at the step S2502 as regards the process to be
made at the next step S2503. At the step S2503, the printing is performed
by the use of a substitute pattern (e.g., a predetermined dot pattern such
as a thinning pattern) in place of the solid printing pattern, which has
been prepared and saved in the FD, or the like in advance as data thereby
to efface the printing defects such as the aforesaid density irregularity.
To this end, an AND should be taken between the substitute pattern and the
image information of the printing object, and the result thereof should be
used anew as an image information for the printing object. Also, as to the
image information which is used highly frequently, the standard image and
the image prepared using its substitute pattern are both saved in the
storage in advance, and may be selectively used in accordance with the
printing conditions. The examples of the printing results by the
substitute patterns are shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B.
In this respect, the process requiring the user's judgment at the step
S2502 is added for obtaining the user's confirmation because the solid
pattern is replaced with the substitute pattern as the current printing
pattern.
Even in the case of the post card printing, if the user judges that the
solid printing area is not much in the object to be printed and the
ambient conditions are considered appropriate so as not to bring about a
printing irregularity, the process can proceed from the step S2502 to the
step S2504 to execute the printing with the solid printing pattern.
FIG. 30A through 30D show the examples of the substitute patterns, and
FIGS. 30A and 30B are those used for FIGS. 29A and 29B.
FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing another embodiment according to the present
invention.
The present embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 25 in that
the portion regarding the step S2503 is changed. At the step S2503, the
stored substitute pattern is read for printing, but in the present
embodiment, the thinning process is automatically performed with respect
to the solid printing area of an illustration or characters at the step
S2603 for printing.
Also, while in the embodiment in conjunction with FIG. 25, the substitute
pattern prepared for printing at the step S2503 is only one kind, the
plural kinds of patterns that can be designated at the time of printing
(those shown in FIGS. 30A through 30D, for example) are prepared, and the
arrangement can be made so that the user may select one of them at the
time of making his judgment at the step S2502 in FIG. 25 or it may be
possible to arrange that in an ordinary process, one of them is selected
as default value and others can be selected by special instructions. Also,
it may be possible to arrange that plural kinds of substitute patterns are
used in combination by performing the area designations for a same image.
Likewise, in the embodiment in conjunction with FIG. 26, a plurality of
thinning processes may be arranged at the step S2603 so as to allow one of
them to be selected.
Also, as a condition to change the dot patterns for printing, the judgment
may be made as to whether or not there are many portions which are not
white in the illustration editing data called from the memory, and it may
be arranged to change the dot patterns when the data has in its image many
portions which are not white. For the specific method of such a change,
if, for example, the object data is a black and white binarized image, a
computation is executed at the time of the illustration editing data
having been called to obtain the ratio of bit "1" (black) which occupys in
the entire data by dividing the sum of such bits by the total bit number,
and if the ratio thus obtained exceeds the predetermined reference value,
then the object image is regarded as having more black portions, and the
dot pattern change may be arranged to take place.
Also, in an information processing apparatus enabling connections with
plural kinds of printers, the arrangements may be made so that the process
in the portions regarding the above-mentioned substitute patterns can be
executed only when the object printer is of ink jet type and skipped in
the case of a printer of any other types in accordance with the judgment
on the type or setting up of a printer to be connected which is performed
preceding the selection of the above-mentioned substitute pattern process
in the printing set up process at the side of the information processing
apparatus.
According to the present invention set forth above, it is possible to
implement a high quality printing of illustrations and others suited for
the quality of papers used, ambient conditions, object printing data, and
the type of object printers.
Top